Compass Clay Studio is a learning ceramic studio and gallery located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe, CA at 976 Edgewood Circle. Owners and instructors, Colleen Sidey and Bryan Yerian are ceramic artists for 40+ years combined, Lake Tahoe Community College art faculty members, and local elementary school art enrichment teachers. Colleen and Bryan have lived in South Lake Tahoe for over ten years and created Compass Clay Studio as a way to provide the local community with access to the clay experience.

Compass Clay Studio has a cozy, welcoming studio atmosphere tucked in a quiet wooded setting just off of Highway 50. Housed in a diamond shaped building with its four points pointing to the four directions, Compass Clay Studio hopes to provide a creative space where students feel inspired and empowered on their journey to find their clay direction. The studio and instructors are casual, fun and kid/family friendly, and foster an atmosphere of individuality, support and growth through sharing and positivity. Compass Clay Studio is excited to offer experiences in the ceramic process from handbuilding to wheel throwing to glazing and share with participants clay’s ability to challenge, relax, and build friendships. Our classes and workshops embrace participants at all levels from beginning to advanced offering an opportunity to get your hands dirty and inspire your unique creative side.

Colleen’s specialties are handbuilding, figure sculpture and illustrative surface techniques such as image transfer, sgraffito, sliptrailing, and ceramic decals. Colleen loves working with all ages and has a gentle, patient, and humorous approach to teaching handbuilding, wheel throwing, and glazing techniques. Her artwork is whimsical, empathetic and rich in texture and storytelling much like her teaching style.

Bryan is a skilled potter, moldmaker and all media sculptor. He is a technical expert in glaze chemistry and large scale handbuilding and wheelthrowing. Bryan enjoys sharing his technical and conceptual knowledge with his students and has a slightly goofy side.